Brewster Police Dept. heads off school shooting threat

BREWSTER – A Brewster School District staff member contacted the Brewster Police Department on Saturday, Dec. 3, concerning threats made by a student to “shoot up the Brewster Middle School” on Monday, Dec. 5, according to a media release from Chief Marcos Ruiz.

“A photo of a gun was sent in a group message with a warning telling some students not to go to school,” wrote Ruiz. “The message contained information saying the gun was going to be brought to school on Monday.”  

Brewster Police initiated an investigation and those involved in the chat were contacted. Within hours, the sender of the original messaged was located.

“Officer Harmier arrested the juvenile suspect, and the gun was located,” wrote Ruiz. “The gun was a pellet gun with no bright colored markings. At first glance the pellet gun looked like a real firearm.”

Brewster Police worked with the Okanogan County Prosecutors office to quickly ensure the safety of the public and the Brewster School District.

’These types of threats are taken seriously and will not be tolerated,” wrote Ruiz. “I want to thank the individuals who reported this information to the police, and the cooperation of everyone interviewed, without them saying something, something bad may have happened.  If you see something, say something.”